Magnetorheological dampener system for protecting well equipment

Abstract

Systems and a method for resisting a fluctuation in a value of a parameter relating to well equipment using a magnetorheological dampener system are described herein. The method includes continuously determining the value of the parameter relating to the well equipment, determining a fluctuation in the value of the parameter, and comparing the fluctuation in the value of the parameter to a preset limit. The method also includes energizing an electromagnet to increase a viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) if the fluctuation exceeds the preset limit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetorheological dampener disposed within well equipment, comprising:
 a storage chamber containing a magnetorheological fluid (MRF); 
 an exhaust chamber, comprising a plunger and a spring; 
 an orifice that fluidically couples the storage chamber to the exhaust chamber; and 
 an electromagnet disposed proximate to the storage chamber and the exhaust chamber; 
 wherein the electromagnet is configured to increase a viscosity of the MRF to resist a fluctuation in a value of a parameter within the well equipment, and wherein the MRF flows through the orifice and into the exhaust chamber in response to an amount of force that is determined by the viscosity of the MRF; and 
 wherein the plunger and the spring within the exhaust chamber cause the MRF to flow back through the orifice and into the storage chamber when the amount of force is decreased. 
 
     
     
       2. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet increases the viscosity of the MRF in response to being energized by a controller. 
     
     
       3. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet is configured to decrease the viscosity of the MRF when the fluctuation in the value of the parameter is not detected. 
     
     
       4. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 3 , wherein the electromagnet decreases the viscosity of the MRF in response to being de-energized by a controller. 
     
     
       5. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 1 , wherein the well equipment comprises a gas lift valve (GLV); the magnetorheological dampener is disposed between a bellows and a dome of the GLV; and the parameter comprise an injection pressure within the GLV. 
     
     
       6. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 1 , wherein the well equipment comprises a plunger lift system; the magnetorheological dampener is disposed between a lubricator and a path of an artificial lift plunger within the plunger lift system; and the parameter comprise a velocity of the artificial lift plunger as it travels towards the lubricator. 
     
     
       7. The magnetorheological dampener of  claim 1 , wherein the well equipment comprises a production flowline; the magnetorheological dampener is disposed in a flow path of hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline; and the parameter comprise at least one of a mass flow or a pressure of the hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline. 
     
     
       8. A method for resisting a fluctuation in a value of a parameter relating to well equipment using a magnetorheological dampener system, comprising:
 continuously determining the value of the parameter relating to the well equipment; 
 determining a fluctuation in the value of the parameter; 
 comparing the fluctuation in the value of the parameter to a preset limit; 
 energizing an electromagnet to increase a viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) when the fluctuation in the value of the parameter exceeds the preset limit; 
 resisting the fluctuation in the value of the parameter by allowing the MRF to flow from a storage chamber to an exhaust chamber via an orifice in response to an amount of force that is determined by the viscosity of the MRF; and 
 allowing the MRF to flow from the exhaust chamber back to the storage chamber via the orifice when the amount of force is decreased, wherein a plunger and a spring within the exhaust chamber cause the MRF to flow back through the orifice and into the storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , comprising de-energizing the electromagnet to decrease the viscosity of the MRF when the fluctuation no longer exceeds the preset limit. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the well equipment comprises a gas lift valve (GLV); and wherein the parameter comprises an injection pressure within the GLV. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the well equipment comprises a plunger lift system; and wherein the parameter comprises a velocity of an artificial lift plunger within the plunger lift system. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the well equipment comprises a production flowline; and wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a mass flow or a pressure of hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein continuously determining the value of the parameter relating to the well equipment comprises:
 continuously detecting the value of the parameter using a sensor; and 
 reading the value of the parameter using a controller that is communicably coupled to the sensor. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein energizing the electromagnet to increase the viscosity of the MRF comprises continuously increasing or decreasing an amount of energization of the electromagnet based on the fluctuation in the value of the parameter. 
     
     
       15. A magnetorheological dampener system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a value of a parameter within well equipment; 
 a magnetorheological dampener, comprising:
 a storage chamber containing a magnetorheological fluid (MRF); 
 an exhaust chamber, comprising a plunger and a spring; 
 an orifice that fluidically couples the storage chamber to the exhaust chamber; and 
 an electromagnet disposed proximate to the storage chamber and the exhaust chamber; and 
 
 a controller, comprising:
 a processor configured to implement instructions from a data store; and 
 the data store, comprising instructions to direct the processor to:
 continuously read the value of the parameter; 
 determine a fluctuation in the value of the parameter; 
 compare the fluctuation in the value of the parameter to a preset limit; and 
 energize the electromagnet to increase a viscosity of the MRF when the fluctuation in the value of the parameter exceeds the preset limit; 
 
 
 wherein the MRF flows through the orifice and into the exhaust chamber in response to an amount of force that is determined by the viscosity of the MRF; and 
 wherein the plunger and the spring within the exhaust chamber cause the MRF to flow back through the orifice and into the storage chamber when the amount of force is decreased. 
 
     
     
       16. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the data store comprises instruction to direct the processor to de-energize the electromagnet to decrease the viscosity of the MRF when the fluctuation no longer exceeds the preset limit. 
     
     
       17. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the well equipment comprises a gas lift valve (GLV); the magnetorheological dampener is disposed between a bellows and a dome of the GLV; the sensor comprises a pressure sensor; and the parameter comprise an injection pressure within the GLV. 
     
     
       18. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 17 , wherein the magnetorheological dampener prevents fluctuations in the injection pressure from causing a stem and a seat of the GLV to chatter. 
     
     
       19. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the well equipment comprises a plunger lift system; the magnetorheological dampener is disposed between a lubricator and a path of an artificial lift plunger within the plunger lift system; the sensor comprises a velocity sensor; and the parameter comprise a velocity of the artificial lift plunger as it travels towards the lubricator. 
     
     
       20. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetorheological dampener reduces a mechanical impact of the artificial lift plunger as it engages with the lubricator. 
     
     
       21. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the well equipment comprises a production flowline; the magnetorheological dampener is disposed in a flow path of hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline; the sensor comprises at least one of a mass flow sensor or a pressure sensor; and the parameter comprise at least one of a mass flow or a pressure of the hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline. 
     
     
       22. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnetorheological dampener partially obstructs the flow path of the hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline to prevent fluctuations in the mass flow or the pressure of the hydrocarbon fluids from overwhelming production facilities. 
     
     
       23. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 21 , comprising two pipes connected to the production flowline via a switching valve, wherein each of the two pipes comprises a magnetorheological dampener system, and wherein the flow path of the hydrocarbon fluids within the production flowline is alternated between the two pipes. 
     
     
       24. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the well equipment comprises a pig catcher; the magnetorheological dampener is disposed between the pig catcher and a path of a pig; the sensor comprises a velocity sensor; and the parameter comprise a velocity of the pig as it travels towards the pig catcher. 
     
     
       25. The magnetorheological dampener system of  claim 15 , wherein the data store comprises instructions to direct the processor to continuously increase or decrease an amount of energization of the electromagnet based on the fluctuation in the value of the parameter.